Here is another chapter. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places in this story. They belong to CS Lewis.
The Queen Left Behind – Chapter 2
Peter sat at his desk in his school dormitory, stationary as he stared wearily at the pages in front of him. The mass of spidery print blurred as his mind wandered to a far away land where animals talked and he was known as a king. Where was Susan? Why had there been no word of her? Couldn't Aslan send a message to them?
These were the questions that had circled ceaselessly through Peter's mind, torturing him like pushing bamboo under his fingernails. For all he knew, Susan could be dead or captured by rebel Telmarines or even the brutal Calormenes. Peter slammed his fist onto the desk. Where the hell was she?
Down the corridor in his own dormitory, Edmund was trying to get to sleep. He tossed and turned, his mind plagued by restless dreams of Narnia. In his dream he was a Griffen, flying over every inch of Narnia in search of Susan. He could see only one slightly encouraging hope on the horizon; Aslan had implied that He and Lucy would return to Narnia. Perhaps…
Susan lay on the soft bed. It took her a moment to orientate herself and then a broad smile lit up her face while a warm, unquenchable happiness spread throughout her being. She turned her head to the side where she saw Caspian – her King. He slept contentedly, an expression of peace upon his face. She reached over to stroke his face then kissed him softly on the cheek. With a soft groan, he awoke.
"Good morning," Susan whispered, smiling into his sleepy face. Caspian put his hand behind her head and gently pulled her in for a kiss.
"I would love to stay here all day but I have duties to attend to. Not least of which being the announcement of an approaching marriage." Caspian grinned at her.
"If that was your form of asking me to marry you, the answered is definitely yes. Yes! Yes! YES!" Susan exclaimed.
The Narnian's were overjoyed by the return of Susan the Gentle and thrilled by the announcement of their proposed marriage. At last Narnia would have a mighty and just couple to sit upon the thrones at Cair Paravel. Another cause for great relief was the better humour that overcame Caspian. Ever since the Pevensie children left, Narnia had been overcome by something like a period of grieving. It had not been a happy time.
Susan stood quietly as the dress maker quickly checked her measurements for the wedding dress. Her thoughts, as they regularly did, turned to her siblings. They must be so worried she thought. The dress maker left when she was finished. Susan turned to the window but spun back around when she heard a slight noise. She gasped, her heart thudding. Aslan stood before her in all of his glory.
"My daughter," he growled gently, his eyes full of kindness.
"Aslan!" Susan ran towards him.
"I believe you have something to ask me, Susan."
Susan paused, wondering how to phrase her question.
"As you know, I am getting married to Caspian in two weeks. My siblings still do not know my hereabouts. I would like them at my wedding."
"Alas, the favour you request is the favour I cannot grant you. Peter cannot return – he has grown into a man and belongs where he is for now. As for Edmund and Lucy – I have other plans for them but they cannot return yet. I am sorry to be so final but that is the way it must be."
Susan dissolved into tears. She sobbed bitterly for the absence of her siblings, for the certain worry they must be feeling and for their inability to be present on the most important day of her life. When her weeping subsided and her eyes at last cleared, Aslan was gone.
Caspian returned later to find her lying stationary on the bed. He hurried to her side, concern creasing his face.
"Susan, whatever is the matter?" he questioned her as he gathered her is his arms.
"They – they can't come to the wedding. I'm getting married and my own family won't be there!" she wailed.
"Hush," he soothed her as he held her tighter. He felt as though if he loosened his arms she might simply fall apart.
The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear. Susan examined her skillfully crafted gown in the mirror. It should have been Lucy ho helped her to get dressed and fixed her hair instead of the troop of hand maidens that bustled around her room. At last she was ready.
Caspian stood at the altar beside Aslan. He watched in amazement as Susan made her way down the aisle. The expression on her pale face was a mixture of sadness and joy that was so beautiful and painful to Caspian that he almost cried. They were surrounded by their friends – Reepicheep, Trufflehunter, Trumpkin, Glenstorm and his family and countless others. It would have been perfect if not for the absence of Peter, Edmund and Lucy.
The wedding was followed by days of jubilant celebration throughout Narnia. It was the happiest time of the couple's young lives. The streets were full of dancing and singing. Cair Paravel was awash with colour and happy voices.
Once the celebrations had drawn to a reluctant close, Caspian began to plan a voyage. He had sworn on his coronation day that once peace was established in Narnia he would sail east to find his father's seven lost friends. They had ventured to the Eastern Islands but they hadn't been seen since. Now that everything was settled in Narnia it was time to go.
He was taking his ship the Dawn Treader and had put together a gallant and experienced crew. He was also taking Reepicheep, Lord Drinian and a few others who had expressed interest in the voyage.
On the night before the departure, he and Susan lay in bed, clinging to each other desperately. They had hardly been separated since their wedding and Caspian planned to be away for a whole year.
"I will miss you so much," he told Susan, trying not to cry.
"What will I do without you, my King?" Susan was already weeping.
"Just remember that my love for you is as deep and vast as the ocean I will sail and you will be part of my every thought." He assured her.
They lay silent for a time. At last Susan broke the silence.
"Why don't I come with you?" she asked, locking her eyes with Caspian's. "We could leave Trumpkin as regent. He could look after things while we are away."
"I don't know…It will be such a long voyage and we will enter many hostile lands. I don't want to put you at risk."
Susan sat up, anger and hurt blazing in her eyes.
"Do you think that I am a delicate, fragile lady who can't handle danger? Do you think that I would be content to wait here, safe and sound while you are away? Perhaps you don't know me as I thought you did!"
Caspian was shocked by her sudden outburst. He sat up quickly.
"I don't think any of those things. I know that you are just as strong and brave as any of the company I have chosen. I just wanted to protect you. You are everything to me."
"Then let me accompany you," she pleaded. "How are we to spend a year apart? It would be unbearable."
Caspian wrapped his arms around her, kissing her passionately.
"Of course you will come, my Queen. I could not have it any other way."
